Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas (2024)

Austin American-Statesman METRO STATE Sunday, May 11, 2008 B3 SAND: Sculpting family is going pro Continued from B1 For the past 10 years, Terrell; his wife, Becky; and their 32-year-old son, Jeff, have competed in Texas, Florida, and California. Ky and. Jeff have entered competitions at amateur levels, but now they're preparing to compete consistently at the masters level, meaning that they will be up against professional sand sculptors who craft elaborate scenes for a living for mall openings, charity functions and corporate events. "We've been winning in the amateur divisions for six years," Ky Terrell said. "We've won so many, now we're trying to move up, if we can." It will be a challenge for the men, who both have day jobs and live in landlocked Austin.

Ky is director of security at the Jewish Community Association of Austin, and Jeff works for the federal government. They don't have easy access to sand except during family vacations they take three or four times a year. Most masters live near coastal areas. "Right now, we just head to the beach whenever we can, go out as a family and play in the sand," Ky Terrell said. There are only about 35 masters in the United States, Ky Terrell said, and about 10 of them win most competitions.

"I am a little intimidated," he said, laughing. "If you see their work, it's hard not to be in awe of what they can do." Ky Terrell has been building sand castles at the family vacation house in Galveston for more than 20 years. About a decade ago, a woman walked by one of the family's projects and was so impressed that she suggested they enter a contest. They took her advice, but the first year, they just stood by and watched. The next year, Terrell and his wife entered for the first time and won second place in an amateur contest.

"One thing led to another, and then we were bringing tools down there and competing," Jeff Terrell said. "It's a family event for us." The Terrells have created castles involving princesses who kiss frogs, knights who battle dragons and mermaids who have had too much to drink. The sculptors use water and makeshift tools such as kitchen utensils to shape the sand, and sculptures can take as long as 24 hours to complete. Anything can happen during the three-day competitions, and if a sculpture is rained on or collapses, the competitors salvage what they can. The Terrells watched two days of work topple in an April competition in Port Aransas.

"When it gets to be 12 feet tall, there's a huge amount of weight. Our base wasn't strong enough, and it collapsed," Ky Terrell said. "It was a beautiful piece. But that's what happens sometimes." Although Ky Terrell always uses a castle theme in his work, sculptors can create just about anything they want. At a recent Texas Sand Fest competition in Port Aransas, entries FAMILY PHOTO Ky Terrell always uses a castle theme in his work, such as this sculpture in Port Aransas in 2005.

Sand sculpture contest rules square and a 6-foot-by-10-foot pile of sand. Typical competitions span three days, with judging on the final day. Sculptors are at the mercy of the elements (and sometimes vandals). They are not allowed to protect their work with tents or structures. -Wooden or plastic supports can be used in construction, but they must be removed at the end.

are awarded for things like creativity and cut-throughs: holes and arches, for example. are given a 20-foot-by-20-foot included two babies curled up inside an apple with a snake at their feet, a cadre of sea creatures playing in a jazz band and Mary holding Jesus after he was taken down from the cross. "You can do anything you want, as long as it's tasteful," said Jon Woodworth, who owns a foundation repair company in Leander and has competed against the Terrells on numerous occasions. "It is a family event." Ky Terrell is applying to enter a sand-sculpting contest in the Canadian city of Vancouver in August. He is hoping to be accepted to compete at the masters level.

"I've never done a competition there before," Ky Terrell said. "I'm hoping the sand is good." 445-3851 DEATH NOTICES BUCKLEW, Annie Lee, 89, retired bookkeeper, of King- Latin Cemetery, Elgin. sland died I Thursday. Visitation 6 p.m. today, Putnam PLATO, William 82, retired machinist, of Del Valle Funeral Home, Kingsland.

Services 10 a.m. Tuesday, Knobbs Springs Capital Parks Cemetery, Pflugerville. Baptist Church, McDade. Burial Beaukiss Cemetery, HAYES, Janet Bloxham, 59, corrections officer, of Llano, Beaukiss. formerly of South Carolina, died Friday.

Survived by hus- SULTEMEIER, Otto 92, rancher, of Johnson City died band Bill. Services 11 a.m. Monday, Waldrope-Hatfield- Friday. Survived by wife Maxine. Visitation 6 p.m.

today, Hawthorne Funeral Home, Llano. Crofts Funeral Home, Johnson City. Services 10 a.m. MonHITCHCOCK, Patsy, 61, retired key punch operator, of day, Crofts. Burial Post Oak Cemetery, Johnson City.

Austin died Friday. Services pending with WELSH, Mark A. 82, retired Air Force colonel, of Forest Oaks. Austin died Saturday. Survived by wife Peg.

Rosary 7 p.m. NUNEZ, Juana Tamez, 76, of Elgin died Friday. Rosary Tuesday, Harrell Funeral Home. Services 10 a.m. Wednes7 p.m.

today, Elgin Funeral Home, Elgin. Services 10 a.m. day, St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church. Burial Live Monday, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Elgin.

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She and her husband, Harry etly and with little fanfare, serve minority Akin, took over the diner in 1994. The Night persons in his restaurants," Harry Akin said Hawk chain was founded in 1932 by Akin's of his uncle. "It was, of course, a very controuncle Harry. The Frisco Shop has stood at the versial thing at the time. A number of his felcorner of Burnet Road and Koenig Lane since low restaurateurs in the area here were furious 1953.

about it." From its original incarnation as a tiny short- On Saturday, the mood at the Frisco Shop order joint, "the building was expanded twice, was bittersweet. Longtime staffers and patrons without expanding the kitchen," Julia Akin shared memories and tried not to be sad. said. Manager Tina Coak, who has worked there As might be expected, the Frisco Shop is for 22 years, said she is confident that the new loaded with history. Frisco Shop will have the same pull as the old The first Harry Akin, a former traveling per- one.

former who gave up on the dream of an acting "We're going to make it as close as possible to career as talking pictures began to hit Holly- the original," Coak said. "Our customers have wood, started the first Night Hawk restaurant been coming here for generations." at the corner of South Congress Avenue and Annalee Langham said she practically grew Riverside Drive. up in Night Hawk diners. She came to the FrisFrom there, the chain expanded across Aus- co Shop on Saturday to buy a T-shirt before it tin and into other cities and spawned the Night closes. Hawk Frozen Foods line.

"There's a taste here you can't get anywhere Akin, who had become notable for being the else," Langham said. first 1 white restaurateur in Austin to serve black 445-3851 TRUST THE DOCTORS OTHER DOCTORS TRUST FOR LASIK Call 327-7000 to Schedule a Free LASIK Screening More eye doctors in Central Texas choose Texan Eye Care for LASIK than any other practice. They know that Drs. Dell and Walters are nationally recognized leaders in LASIK and utilize the most advanced technology available. Your eyes deserve the best.

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